Suspenders.



PATBNTED MAY 19,1903. H. 0. HINB. SUSPENDERS.

APPLIOA'PIOK FILED OUT. 17,- 1902.

N0 MODEL.

is ca, mom-L UNITED STATES Patented May 19, 1903.

PAT NT QFFICE.

SUSPENDERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 728,712, dated May 19, 1903.

Application filed October 1'7, 1902. Serial No. 127,678. (No model.)

T0 at whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY O. HINE, a citizen of the United States, residing in NewBrituseful Improvements in Suspenders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to suspenders and other garment-supporters, particularly those of the class illustrated in the patents granted to me September 9, 1902, No. 708,963, and ()ctober 14, 1902, No. 711,313; and its object is to simplify and improve the lever and hanger construction, especially with a view to reducing the number of the balls.

My invention may also be applied to other parts of suspenders or to other garment-supporters.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 represents a pair of suspenders embodying my improved trimming. Fig. 2 is a perspective View, partly broken away, of a lever-jointed to a hanger.' Fig. 3 is an elevation of the lever and hanger, one of the plates of the former being removed. Fig. 4 illustrates the hanger. Fig. 5 is a sectional view illustrating the relation of the hanger and lever-plates, showing particularly how the latter are rigidly secured together,

while leaving the lever free to vibrate; and

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, but illustrating a modification of the'central fasteneris pivoted to a hanger B, the latter having an elongated eye b for the reception of tabs or SDSPGIldGP-Bflds' D, although the parts 0, O, and D may be otherwise connected to the lever and hanger. The lever A consists of a pair of oppositely-arranged plates at and a, preferably connected at their ends by rivets 2, whereon the chapes c and c are pivoted. The lever-plates are formed with opposite struck-up annular grooves a and a, suitable for receiving bearing-balls 4. The hanger B preferably consists of a single plate inserted between the lever-plates and is formed with a series of closed curved slots b which are disposed in a circle and are coincident with the grooves a and a in'the lever-plates.

In each of said slots 1) is placed one of the balls 4:, so that the hanger is supported by 5 the balls. It will be understood that the walls or portions of the hanger between said slots at b are within the ball-race, and hence prevent the balls from running together. These portions 1) therefore form ball-separators, permitting a reduction in the number of balls requisite for supporting the hanger. It will be understood, however, that by using closed slots 'an important advantage is gained, since the portions of the plate at 1) between the ends of the slots form ball-separators. The device at Fig. 4 may be regarded as having an annular space which is divided by a series of interruptions b into the series of closed slots b It will be understood that 7 the circular sides or treads of the slots are all concentric, this feature of construction being unaffected by the presence of the interruptions. Thus it will be seen that this portion of the invention comprises a shoulder-strap le 7 ver and a hanger for attachment to a suspender-end, that one of said elements A consists of apair of plates and the other thereof, B, is inserted between said plates and has curved ball-engaging means formed therein, said curved ball-engaging means in this instance consisting otall of the outer or all of the inner sides or treads of the slots 5 taken together, that at least one of said plates has a circular channel a or a 006p- 8;

erating with said curved ball-en gaging means to form a ball-race, and that one of said raceforming elements is formed with interruptions (in this instance b) for maintaining separation of the ball. It will be under- 9 stood that the presence of the interruptions b does not interfere with the ordinary cooperation of the balls either with the grooves in the lever or with the corresponding curved edge or tread in the hanger. The hanger may be regarded as having a single annular slot having outer and inner circular bearing surfaces or edges, which form treads that work upon the balls, these edges, however, being formed with the interruptions b. Notwithstanding these interruptions the balls ordinarily cooperate with one another and with the grooves and curved edges the same as if said interruptions were not existing. So far as the ordinary operation of the balls are concerned these interruptions may therefore be disregarded, one of their principal purposes being to occupy portions of the ball-race, so as to permit a reduction in the numberof balls.

My invention further includes improved means for connecting the lever-plates a and a so as to prevent lateral displacement of either thereof or to prevent either from moving toward or away from the other. For this purpose I use a transverse fastener consisting in thisinstance of doubleheaded rivet 5, comprising a body portion 5, having double shoulders 5", against which the plates at and a abut. The two heads a of said rivet bind said plates to said shoulders, so that the plates are immovable with relation to each other in either inward or outward direction. means the degree of separation of the plates may be accurately gaged, so that the parts may be made in large quantities and assembled without liability of inaccurate fitting of the balls in the races. The hanger Bis provided with a central perforation b of sufficient size to clear the body of said rivet 5, as seen in Fig. 3. It will be seen that one of the platesis confined between one rivet-head and the body of the fastener at one end of the latter, while the other of said plates is likewise confined at the other end of the fass tener.

In the form of fastener illustrated at Fig. 6 a plain rivet 7 connects the leverplates, the heads of said rivets binding the plates against a collar 7,whichis inserted between the plates and which corresponds to the body portion 5, the effect being the same as at Fig. 5.

The improved central fastening may be used in connection with different kinds of ballbearing suspender-trimmings. It will be seen that the central fastening device comprises an enlarged body between the plates and has at each end a head which rivets the plates to said body.

It will be seen at Fig. 3 that not only is the use of a few balls permitted, but thata further advantage is gained in that these balls may be distributed at substantially equidistant points, thereby to equalize the distribution of the stresses upon the parts, thus giving the maximum strength with the least expenditure for construction. This feature is of great advantage, especially in view of the extreme thinness of the metal used for suspendertrimmings.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. The combination of a shoulder-strap le-. ver and a hanger for attachment to a suspender-end; said lever and hanger elements being formed of sheet metal; one of said elements consisting of a pair of plates and the other thereof being inserted between said plates and having curved ball-engaging means formed therein; at least one of said plates having acircular channel cooperating with said By this ball-engaging means to form a ball-race; and a set of balls in said race; one of said raceforming elements being formed with means for maintaining separation of the balls.

2. The combination of a shoulder-strap lever and a hanger for attachment to a suspender-end; said lever and hanger elements being formed of sheet metal; one of said elements consisting of a pair of plates and the other thereof being inserted between said plates and having curved ball-engaging means formed therein; at least one of said plates having a circular channel cooperating with said ball-engaging means to form a ball-race; and a set of balls in said race; said curved ball-engaging means being provided with an interruption which occupies a portion of the ball-race, whereby separation of the balls is maintained.

3. The combination of a shoulder-strap 1ever and a hanger for attachment to a suspender-end; said lever and hanger elements being formed of sheet metal; one of said elements consisting of a pair of plates and the other thereof being inserted between said plates and having curved ball-engaging means formed therein; each of said plates having a circular channel cooperating with said ballengaging means -to form a ball-race; and a set of balls in said race; said curved ball-engaging means being provided with a plurality of interruptions within the ball-race, whereby separation of the balls is maintained.

4. The combination of a shoulder-strap lever and a hanger for attachment to a suspender-end; said lever and hanger elements being formed of sheet metal; one of said elements consisting of a pair of plates and the other thereof being inserted between said plates; said pair of plates being provided with opposite cooperating annular grooves; and said inserted plate having formed therein a series of closed slots coincident with said grooves; and a ball inserted in each of said slots and working in said grooves.

5. The combination of a shoulder-strap lever and a hanger, both provided with parts which cooperate to form a single ball-race, and a single set of balls in said race; one of said lever and hanger elements being formed with ball-separators within said race.

6. The combination of a shoulder-strap lever and a hanger for attachment to a suspender-end; said lever and hanger elements being formed of sheet metal; said lever consisting of a pair of plates and said hanger being inserted between said plates and having curved ball-engaging means formed therein; said lever-plates having a circular channel cooperating wit-h said ball-engaging means to form a ball-race; and a set of balls in said race; said hanger being formed with a series of interruptions for maintaining separation of the balls.

7. The combination of a shoulder-strap lever and a hanger for attachment to a suspender-end; said lever and hanger elements being formed of sheet metal; one of said elements consisting of a pair of plates and the other thereof being inserted between said plates and having curved ball engaging means formed therein; at least one of said plates having a circular channel cooperating with said bearing-surface to form a ball-race; and a set of balls in said race; said curved ball-engaging means being provided with an interruption which occupies aportion of the ball-race, whereby separation of the balls is maintained; and a central device for securing said pair 'of plates together so that neither can move either toward or away from the other.

8. The combination of a shoulder-strap lever and a hanger for attachment to a suspender-end; said lever and hanger elements being formed of sheet metal; one of said elements consisting of a pair of plates and the other thereof being inserted between said plates and having curved ball engaging means formed therein; each of said plates having a circular channel cooperating with said bearing-surface to form a ball-race; and a set of balls in said race; said curved ball-engaging means being provided with a plurality of interruptions within the ball-race, whereby separation of the balls is maintained; and means at the center of said pair of plates for preventing lateral displacement of either thereof relatively to the other in lateral direction; said means comprising a part between the plates and a transverse fastener which binds said plates against said part.

9. The combination of a shoulder-strap lever and a hanger for attachment to a suspender-end; said lever and hanger elements being formed of sheet metal; one of said elements consisting of a pair of plates and the other thereof being inserted between said plates; said pair of plates being provided with opposite cooperating annular grooves; and said inserted plate having formed thereina series of closed slots coincident with said grooves; and a ball inserted in each of said slots and workingin said grooves; and means at the center of said pair of plates for preventing displacement of either thereof relatively to the other in lateral direction.

10. The combination of a shoulder-strap lever and a hanger for attachment to a suspender-end; said lever and hanger elements being formed of sheet metal; one of said elements consisting of a pair of plates and the other thereof being inserted 'between said plates and having curved ballengaging means formed therein; at least one of said plates having a circular channel cooperating with said ball-engaging meansto form a ballrace; and a set of balls in said race; one of said race-forming elements being formed with an interruption for maintaining separation of the balls; and a central fastening device having a body between said pair of plates and also having at each end a rivet-head; said heads riveting said plates to said body.

ruptions within the ball-race, whereby separation of the balls is maintained; and acentral fastening device having a body between said pair of plates and also having at each end a rivet-head; said heads riveting said plates to said body.

12. The combination of a shoulder-strap lever and a hanger for attachment to a susponder-end; said lever and hanger elements being formed of sheet metal; said lever consisting of a pair of plates and said hanger being inserted between said plates; said pair of plates being provided with cooperating opposite annular grooves; and said lever having formed therein a series of closed slots coincident with said grooves; a ball inserted in each of said slots and working in said grooves; and means at the center of said pair of plates for preventing lateral displacement of either thereof relatively to the other in lateral direction.

13. The combination of a shoulder-strap lever and a hanger for attachment to a suspender-end; said lever and hanger elements being formed of sheet metal; one of said elements consisting of a pair of plates and the other thereof being inserted between said plates; a ball-race formed partly in said inserted plate and partly in said pair of plates; a setpf balls in said race; and means at the center of said pair of plates for separating said plates sothat they accurately fit the balls and preventing lateral displacement of either of said plates relatively to the other in either inward or outward direction.

14:. The combination of a shoulder-strap lever and a hanger for attachment to a suspender-end; said lever and hanger elements being formed of sheet metal; one of said elements consisting of a pair of platesand the other thereof being inserted between said plates; a ball-race formed partly in said inserted plate and partly in said pair of plates; and a central fastening device having a body between said pair of plates and also having at each end a rivet-head; one of said plates being confined between one rivet-head and the body of the fastener at one end of the latter, and the other of said plates being confined between the other rivet-head and the body of the fastener at the other end of the latter; said body being of such length as to separate said plates so that they accurately fit the balls.

15. The combinationof a shoulder-strap lever and a hanger for attachment to a sus- IIO pender-end; said lever and hanger elements l between the plates and a transverse fastener being formed of sheet metal; one of said elewhich binds said plates against said part; the ments consisting of a pair of plates and the latter being of a length to cause said plates to other thereof being inserted between said accurately fit the balls. 15 5 plates; a ball-race formed partly in said in- In testimony whereof I have hereunto serted plate and partly in said pair of plates; signed my name at Nos. 9 to 15 Murray street, a set of balls in said race; and means at the New York, N. Y. center of said pair of plates for preventing lateral displacement of either thereof rela- Witnesses: 1o tively to the other in either inward or out- F. W. BARNACLO, Ward direction; said means comprising a part 1 JOHN O. SEIFERT.

' HENRY G. HINE. 

